Clamping mechanism.



W. T. SEARS.

CLAMPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 1916.

L2@6,6%u Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

, vention.

WILLARD T. SEARS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 NILES-BEMENT- POND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CLAMPING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed September 12, 1916. Serial No. 119,772.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLA n) T. SEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping Mechanisms, of which the followinn is a specification.

. he invention relates. particularly to clamping mechanisms of the class-set forth in my reissued Patent No. 14,263, dated February 20, 1917. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a clamping mechanism of .this class which comprises a rotatable device adapted to effect clamping when turned in one direction and releasingwhen turnedin the other direction, and an operating element, preferably a solenoid, which is connected to positively turn the said device first in one direction and then in the other. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the embodiment of the invention which I now deem preferable, but it will be understood that the invention is capable of being embodied in other ways; The inven tion is particularly well adapted for use in connection with the base and vertical column of a radial drill, and these parts are shown in the drawing.

()f the drawing, Figure 1 's an elevation of a part of a radial drill having my improved clamping mechanism, some of the elements being shown in section for the sake of clearness. g

Fig. 2 is an elevation-taken at right angles to the elevation shown'in Fig. 1. In this view several of. the parts are shown in section for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view taken along the line 33 of F ig'. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing one of the element in a position opposite to that shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, 1' represents the base orbed of a radial drill and 2'the column thereof which is mounted. on the base for rotative movement about a vertical axis. These parts maybe constructed-in any usual or preferred way,as they of themselves constitute no part of my present in- For lockingthe column against rotative movement a suitable clamping mechanism is provided, and Ilprefer a con struction such as that shown in my Patent 1,089,442 dated March 10, 1914. WVhen so constructed the base 1 is provided with an inward projecting annular flange 1*, and the column 2 is provided with an outward projecting annular flange 2" having its upper face eveled. Between these two flanges there is positioned a split ring 3, having its upper and lower faces respectively in engagement with the lower and upper faces of the flanges 1 and 2. This ring is provided with ears or lugs at and 5, by means of which the ring can be compressed to grip the said flanges and preventrotative movement of the column. The ears 4 and 5 preferably project through an opening in the base 1.

For the purpose of relatively moving the ears 4 and 5 and thereby setting and releasing the clamp, I provide an operating mechanism which includes a rotatable de-.

vice which is shown in the drawings as a screw 7. The arrangement is such that the clamp can be set and released as desired by means of the screw. As illustrated, this means of the screw, I provide a mechanism which is preferably electromagnetic in character. I also prefer that the mechanism shall have a reciprocable operating element, and when this is provided, the mechanism can advantageously be iii-the form of a solenoid having a movable core. Such a construction is illustrated, the solenoid being indicated by 9 and the movable core by -10. The solenoid 9 is mounted in a suitable bracket 11, formed integrally" with or se- .80 screw extends freely through an aperture in cured to the base 1. The solenoid may be energized by means of current derived from a suitable source such as the battery 12. A switch 13 is provided for effecting the energization and deenergization of the solenoid.

It will be understood that this switch 13 can be located at any convenient point on or ad jacent. to the drill or other machine in connection with which the clamp is used.'

When the solenoid is energized the core atone upward movement efiects the settingof the clamp by means of the screw, and at a subsequent upward movement efiects the releasing of the clamp by means of the screw. Preferably the head 8 is provided with two oppositely disposed pins 15 and 16, and the core 10 has connected to it a latch 17 provided with fingerslS and 19 adapted respectively to engage the said pins 15 andlfi. When the core is moved upward, the latch 17 engages one of the pins, turning the shaft in one direction. When the core and the latch I return to their lower positions, the latch moves freely past the opposite pin. In order to facilitate this free movement of the latch on its downward movement, the lower end of the latch is provided with oppositely beveled surfaces and the latch is pivotally connected with the core for movement about an axis parallel with the axis of the screw 7.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 andB, theclamp is released. When the operator desires to set the clamp he closes the switch 13, thus energizing the solenoid and causing the core 10 and the latch 17 to move upward. The finger 18 is in engagement with the pin 15 and causes the pin to move upward to the position. shown 'in Fig. 4, thus turning the screw 7 and drawing the ears 4 and 5 together to effect setting of the clamp. The latch follows the arcuate movement of the pin 15, thus causing the finger 19 to clear the downward moving pin 16. As soon as the movement is complete the switch 13 is opened, and the core and latch drop.

When it is desired to release the clamp, the switch 13 is again closed and the core 10 and the latch 17 move upward as before.

- This time, however, the pin 16 is engaged and the screw 7 is turned in the opposite direction, thus eiiecting the releasing of the clamp.

I have specifically described the construction shown in the-drawings in order that one embodiment of the invention may be clearly understood, but I desire to point out that thisconstruction has been selected for illustrative purposes only, and that the drawing and specification are not to be construed as defining or limiting the invention, the appended claims being relied upon for that purpose.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with the base of a radial drill and the column rotatably mounted thereon, of a clamp adapted to lock the column against rotative movement, a rota-- .table device, an operating element recipro- 'cable through a fixed cycle, and means;

whereby the said element. upon one movement turns the rotatable device in one direction-to set the clamp and upon another similar movement in the same direction turns the rotatable device in the other direction to release the clamp.

'2. The combination with the base of a radial drill and the column rotatably mounted thereon, of a clamp adapted to lock the column against rotative'movement, a screw,

an operating element reciprocable through a fixed cycle, and means whereby the said element upon one movement acts upon the screw to set the clamp and upon another similar movement in the same directionacts upon the screw to release the'clamp. v

3. The combination with the baseof a radial drill and the column rotatably mounted thereon of a clamp, a screw for setting the clamp to lock the column against rotative movement, a manually controllablefo'le noid, and a mechanism lnterposed between the solenoid and the screw whereby the solenoid upon successive similar movements serves to turn the screw first in one direction to effect clamping and then in. the other direction to effect releasing.

In testimony whereofll hereto afiix my signature.

WILLARD T. SEARS. Y 

